Business Success Tips – Holiday Networking – One Connection at a Time

With the holidays rapidly approaching and festivities on the rise, there is no better time to network. It’s the perfect time of year to start building connections that can last well into 2013 and beyond. When you consider that even one or two new connections can lead to more work and more sales, you can see it is well worth the time. We understand you are busy;but it doesn’t take long to connect and make a great impression.

Here are our best holiday networking tips:

Get busy and start signing up for holiday networking and events – There are so many fun holiday parties, events, and networking opportunities happening now and over the next two months. It’s your opportunity to have some fun and get your name and face out there. Even better are all the opportunities and events that don’t require you to leave the comfort of your own home. Online holiday parties, Twitter parties, fun blog promotions, and other fun virtual events are just a few of the ways you can connect. If you’re having trouble finding events that will provide the best value for your time, try hosting your own. Whatever you do this holiday season, make a commitment to attend as many online and offline holiday events you can. Take advantage of the Chamber’s holiday breakfast or party to connect in a more informal way with everyone you see year-round. But remember, just going there isn’t enough; you need to engage and connect, which leads us to our next tip.

Truly Connect During the Event – What’s important is to be there during the event, even online events. Be present, and that means no multi-tasking and working on other things at the same time. Instead, be focused on interacting and getting to know people. Truly listen to what people are saying. During the holidays people are usually more relaxed and open to real discussions and conversations. Be that person others think about days after the event because of the great conversations they had with you or how much fun you were to be with. Those memories will last a lot longer than your 30-second pitch. Be personable. You’ll have your opportunity to sell later with social media and your other marketing efforts. For now, your goal is to start building relationships and get on the radar of those with whom you connect.No need to do the hard sell during holiday fun, so go ahead and have a great time.

Now this isn’t saying you can’t cheat a little. Know the group who will be present at the events you attend and research topics you think would interest them. A little, “Hey did you hear about the new Facebook tool that allows you to …” can really go a long way. Not only does it create conversation, but also (in a backhanded way) shows them your expertise. They’ll remember this about you.

Follow-up after the event with holiday fun – Yes, most will follow-up after events, but why not use the holidays to send even more holiday cheer? We hope you’re already sending out holiday greeting cards to all of your existing connections; but go ahead and add any new connections to your list as well. Also, for those really good connections – those people you really want to get to know better, consider sending a small gift such as a Starbucks gift card. It’s the little things that make lasting impressions. Holiday mugs are a great idea too. Consider some with motivational sayings as opposed to your logo. When the recipients use your mug on a daily basis to drink their morning coffee or tea, they won’t need your logo to remember where it came from.

It’s important to get started now. Many may think it’s too early; after all, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. However, you can get everything ready, and once the target date hits, off you go. Advance preparation takes away the stress of having to do everything at once. And don’t forget, if you need assistance with any of your holiday marketing ideas, your online support specialist team is always available to pitch in.

Terry L. Green, President of BizEase Support Solutions, and her team of qualified online support specialists, provide seamless online marketing implementation, technology and administrative support solutions to speakers and business coaches worldwide. Visit http://www.bizeasesupport.com to find out how partnering with BizEase Support Solutions can help you grow your business, have more time, and make more money.

In business since 1991, Terry Green is the founder/CEO/President of BizEase Support Solutions, an American-based, online marketing support company comprised of a team of talented professionals from around North America. BizEase excels at providing speakers and business coaches worldwide with seamless online marketing solutions, from setting up shopping carts and editing video, to writing blog posts and managing Social Media and PR campaigns. BizEase clients (who span five continents) take great joy in allowing the BizEase team to take care of the details so they can get back to doing what they do best! Click here to get our weekly tips ezine delivered to your inbox every Friday, with tips on plugins, apps, and tools to make you more productive today!

Comments

Terry, great tips. Most people don’t follow up, and everyone loves getting mail. When I’m working with a client on business and marketing strategy, I always recommend a sequence for meeting people at events like this. Have a system to followup. A simple preprinted card with your brand goes a long way to being remembered. I look at my desk and I still have saved some of the very unique cards of people I have met at events. Having a strategy (what you’re hoping to achieve) and a simple plan (how you’re going to stay connected later) makes your efforts go much further. And allows you to relax and have more fun!

That sounds like a great plan Sherri. And really, a plan is what makes it work. If you have a plan and get into the habit of following that plan after an event, follow up is easy. Thanks for sharing how you handle follow up!

I needed the reminder to go ahead and get the cards and gifts ready to go now! Beating the rush of the holiday season will make me feel fantastic. And, I always remember the cards that come early in December. That makes a big impression on me.

I haven’t even begun thinking about cards and gifts yet, which is NOT good. I always need to get it on the calendar or in the day planner to do these things or I fall behind. I always do so much better when I actually follow my own advice. Good intentions … well, are just good intentions!

Follow up is critical! With all the holiday-hullabaloo it’s easy to go to an event and have the best intentions to follow up and then one things leads to another and poof! It’s been weeks!

I don’t do a lot of local networking to be honest – although I will be getting back into it come to the new year to support some big launches we have planned for mid-late 2013 … and one thing has always worked great for me:

I bring my follow up note cards, stamps, and my laptop with me to an event and leave them in the car. After the event, I don’t go straight back to work or straight home, I head to a coffee shop or another location first and write my “great to connect with you” cards, and my email follow up there.

Then I drop the cards in the mail on the way home and sometimes I’ll send the email right away, or I may save it as a draft and send it the next day.

That’s a great way to prepare for follow-up Jennifer! I don’t do much local networking either, but it’s a great idea for when I travel to in-person events. I can take care of the cards and get them in the mail the next morning and on their way to the recipient before I get distracted. Good idea!

Great tips – there are so many “holiday” networking events right now and it’s a great time to connect with potentials clients in a fun, social setting. However, time and time again, I either see the follow up get dropped – OR I’m just automatically added to someones email list. Take the time to personally connect with those you meet and follow up – the right way! Thanks for the reminders!

I so agree with you Cathy. It seems like it’s either feast or famine, yet not in the good sense on either end. I attended a rather large event back in the Spring, and before I even got home I was bombarded by people adding me to their lists to buy their “stuff.” No personal emails, no personal follow-up at all. I attended a local networking event through a local Meetup group, and not one person followed up with me. I followed up through the Meetup site since only two people had business cards. Networking is great, but why network if you’re not going to follow up?

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